World Climbing Europe President Tijl Smitz praises GRAVITEO event in Barcelona

World Climbing Europe president Tijl Smitz attended the GRAVITEO urban‑sports festival at the Circuit de Barcelona‑Catalunya, where he followed the semi‑finals and final of the bouldering competition at the World Climbing Championship. In an interview he highlighted how inclusion in the Olympic Games has transformed climbing, noting the shift to a professional structure, the addition of separate bouldering and speed disciplines after Tokyo, and the upcoming three‑discipline format for the Los Angeles Games.

Smitz said the sport is rapidly expanding across Europe, with new climbing gyms opening and growing public interest. He described GRAVITEO as a multi‑sport platform that helps attract new audiences to climbing. Spanish mountain sports federation president Bernat Clarella echoed the sentiment, citing Spain’s strong athletes such as Patxi Usobiaga and Olympic gold‑medallist Alberto Gineés and affirming the high level of Spanish climbing within Europe.